Joseph Kennedy III announces run for second term in Congress

Kennedy said he will keep on the course of improving economic development and jobs within the 4th Congressional District.

Jo C. Goode Herald News Staff Reporter @jgoodeHN

First-term U.S. Rep. Joseph P. Kennedy III announced Thursday that he intends to seek re-election.

Kennedy said he will keep on the course of improving economic development and jobs within the 4th Congressional District, which includes the North End of Fall River, Somerset, Swansea, Freetown, Taunton, Attleboro and Newton.

But more importantly, he told The Herald News this week, he wants to continue to help people achieve more economic opportunities.

"People need to feel like there is a better future for their families tomorrow," Kennedy said. "I want to keep up that momentum."

In November 2012, Kennedy handily trumped Republican challenger Sean Bielat to fill the seat of now-retired Democratic U.S. Rep. Barney Frank. Kennedy won a landslide victory in Fall River.

Kennedy has received the endorsements of four mayors in the 4th District, including Mayor Tom Hoye of Taunton, Mayor Kevin Dumas of Attleboro, Mayor Setti Warren of Newton, and Fall River Mayor Will Flanagan.

"Joe shares my vision for the city for a better Fall River, and he understands the community and its people," Flanagan said.

Kennedy has been an advocate for programs and policies that benefit the city, Flanagan said, and is an advocate of the science, technology, engineering and mathematics curriculum model. Flanagan said he's also invested in locating companies within the city that specialize in life sciences.

"He also understands the importance of public safety and has strongly advocated for grants for our police and fire departments," Flanagan said.

Kennedy said his strategy for his second congressional campaign will be much like his first, concentrating on stops in every community, knocking on doors and getting a sense of what is on his constituents' minds.

When asked whom he viewed as possible challengers in the race for the seat, Kennedy said he takes to heart a lesson from his uncle, the late U.S. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy.

"When I campaigned for him in 2006, he said how he approached campaigning was to run for the position and not against another candidate," Kennedy said. "Let people know why you're running. It certainly worked well for him."

Kennedy serves on the Science and Technology, and Foreign Affairs committees and has worked on workforce development, American manufacturing and technological innovation.

In his first year in office, Kennedy has also concentrated on constituent services, with permanent offices in Newton and Attleboro. He and his staff hold office hours in Fall River and every other community in his district.

Kennedy had planned on a campaign kickoff event Thursday night in Taunton, but the event was canceled because of the weather. A new campaign event for supporters and volunteers will be rescheduled in the months ahead, according to Kennedy's staff.